Ian Thorpe: Olympic Swimmer Comes Out As Gay In New Interview

Ian Thorpe, an Olympic gold medalist swimmer from Australia, has revealed he is gay in an all-new interview.

Ian Thorpe, 31, is no longer hiding. The Australian Olympic gold medalist has come out as a gay man in an all-new interview. After years of speculation, Ian has finally revealed the truth about his sexuality and we couldn’t be more proud of Ian’s courage.

Ian Thorpe: Olympic Gold Medalist Swimmer Comes Out As Gay

The Australian swimming legend is set to come out is gay in an incredible interview with esteemed journalist and broadcaster Sir Michael Parkinson on July 13.

In a preview of the interview, Sir Michael asks the tough questions. “You’ve always said that you’re not gay — is all of that true?” he asks.

Australia’s most decorated swimmer — he’s won five Olympic gold medals — puts rumors to bed and reveals that he is gay.

“I’m comfortable saying I’m a gay man,” Ian told Sir Michael, according to People. “And I don’t want people to feel the same way I did. You can grow up, you can be comfortable and you can be gay.”

Ian admits that he was doubting whether or not to confirm his sexuality because of what his country would think of him.

“A part of me didn’t know if Australia wanted its champion to be gay,” he says in the interview. “I am telling not only Australia, I’m telling the world that I am and I hope this makes it easier for others now.”

The Olympic swimmer confesses that he only recently started feeling comfortable enough to tell his family.

“I’m not straight and this is only something that very recently – we’re talking in the past two weeks – I’ve been comfortable telling the closest people around me.”

After the big news broke about the interview, he tweeted his sincere thanks to those who have supported him.